The House is on Fire is well-documented historical fiction that caught my interest from the onset and kept it throughout. The narrative follows four individuals’ alternating POVs: Gilbert, an enslaved black blacksmith; Cecily, a black woman who views the fire as the opportunity of a lifetime; Sally, a middle-aged widow who tries to help others as much as she can; and 14-year-old Jack, an impressionable young stagehand with aspirations of becoming an actor. We get to view these four main characters from before, during, and after the fire.

The author’s descriptive language brings the story to life as she depicts members of the audience as well as the backstage crew. Her portrayal of their subsequent actions once the fire breaks out is both realistic and frightening: the chaos of the evacuation; the collapse of one of the staircases; the flames getting closer; to jump or not to jump. Some people try to be helpful to those around them while others are solely determined to save themselves, often to the detriment of family and friends. What follows is how the lives of the four protagonists are forever changed as a result of the fire.

The action is enthralling, keeping my attention throughout. I couldn’t read this fast enough in my eagerness to find out what happened next. Highly recommended!

A fascinating read about one of the first horrific fires in the newly-formed United States. I did not know anything about this event until this book, and it has made me want to investigate further and read more! The characters were well written and compelling. I could see the scenes in my mind very easily. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received this book free from NetGalley and this is my honest review. The House is on Fire takes place in Richmond, Virginia. This is a factual historical story that takes place during the period of time of early America in the 1800's. The House on Fire is a theatre. The main characters that bring this tragedy to life are Sally, Gilbert, who is a slave, Cecil, also a slave, Cecily, Cecil's daughter, Margaret who is Sally's sister-law and finally Jack. Each one of these characters were directly or indirectly involved during the fire. The fire was a result of a direct order to Jack to raise the chandelier even though Jack knew it was dangerous to do as it was too close to the back backdrop. Just what Jack thought would happen, happened! The chapters give each character named above a part in this tragic event that happened and how it unravels. I couldn't put this page turner down so expertly written by Rachel Beanland.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel.

I loved Rachel Beanland's previous novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, so was very excited to be granted the ARC of her new novel, The House is on Fire. If possible, I believe that this novel is even better than her first. This book is based on the real story of the Richmond Theater fire of 1811. The book draws you in from the beginning with the fire and the immediate aftermath and follows through with the main characters for about a week afterword.. The story is told from 4 viewpoints: Sally, a widow attending the theater with her brother-in-law and sister-in-law; Gilbert, an enslaved blacksmith; Cecily, a slave attending the theater with her mistress and Jack, a teen-age stage hand. This book is very well researched and the characters are based on real people. The author does a wonderful job engaging the reader in the plight of these characters after the fire and makes you really care about their fate. The book alternates viewpoints with each chapter, keeping the reader on the edge of their seats, wanting to know what happens next to each character. I also found the afterword very interesting, as the author told about the real people each character is based on. One also really gets a feel for the time period; what medicine was like, how slaves were treated and the role of women. I look forward to future books from this very talented author.

4.0. A very engaging historical fiction novel focusing on the catastrophic burning of the Richmond Theatre in Richmond, Virginia in 1811. The novel focuses on four characters, two enslaved,, one, Gilbert, a reputable blacksmith who ultimately was a hero in saving many peoples lives at the fire, and the other, Cecily, who was attending the play with her mistress but also who had been sexually abused by her master’s errant son. The other two were a widow who was the daughter of Patrick Henry, Sally, who attended the play, was lucky to escape and ultimately helped minister to those hurt in the fire and a fourteen year orphan, Jack who worked behind the scenes as a stagehand for the acting troupe. Each of tge four characters tells a very distinct story. Although I was unaware of the event, this was a mesmerizing tale with incredible detail on the fire and its aftermath where so many perished. It depicted the suffering, loss and discrimination, sexual as well as racial. Written by the author of Florence Adler Swims Forever, this was much more engaging and it is obvious that much research was put into constructing the novel. The characters were all well developed. Thank you to Netgalley for proving me an advance copy in exchange for a candid and unbiased review.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for an ARC of The House Is on Fire by Rachel Beanland.
Her previous book, Florence Adler Lives Forever, was one of my favorite books of 2020, and The House Is on Fire is on my favorites list for this year.
This historical fiction describes 4 days in December of 1811, when a tragic fire at the Richmond Theatre killed over 70 people. The author's research is thorough, and brings the characters emotions to the forefront. The story focuses on 4 main characters and their struggles with the aftermath.
I highly recommend The House Is on Fire, and look forward to more from Ms Beanland.

Rachel Beanland, the author of Florence Adler Swims Forever, is back with another compelling historical fiction novel based on true events.

Richmond,Virginia in 1811is at the height of the social season. The legisslature is in session and the city is packed with people. On the night after Christmas everyone is going to the only theater in town and soon it is filled with over 600 people. When a fire breaks out in the middle of the performance, there is chaos as everyone tries to escape the flames that are quickly consuming the building.

The story is told from the point of view of four people; Sally, a young widow, is visiting her husband's brother and his wife and they are looking forward to the performance that night. Cecily, a young slave, is sitting in the colored section while her mistress is sitting with her friends in another section. Jack, a young orphan who works at the theater, is also there. Across town, Gilbert is working as a blacksmith hoping to be able to buy his wife's freedom. When the fire breaks out they all make choices that will have consequences for the future.

The House is on Fire is well written and kept me interested. I wasn't familiar with this historical event and I liked each of the main characters. The book left some things unresolved so I am wondering if there might be a sequel.

The House is on Fire will be published on April 4, 2023. Thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

I really enjoyed Rachel Beanland’s previous novel, so I was excited to read The House is on Fire.
The book follows the lives and how they intertwine of four main characters, starting with the disaster of the title. I thought that the actual fire was not the most interesting or dramatic part of the book, I really got into it once the story of the lives of the characters with their family and acquaintances began to be told.
The only slightly disappointing part of the book was the ending where I eagerly turned the page to carry on to be confronted with the end of the book.
I found the author’s note about the historical people the book is based on very interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free advance e-reader copy of “The House is on Fire” by Rachel Beanland in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of the best works of historical fiction I have ever read, and that’s saying a lot! Based on the true story of the Richmond VA theater fire disaster of 1811, this meticulously researched and beautifully written novel is told from four alternating viewpoints: Sarah, a young widow of means; Cecily, a young enslaved woman; Jack, a teenage stagehand and Gilbert, an enslaved blacksmith. Tightly paced and told over the course of about a week, the narrative captures the situations of all four protagonists and the larger themes of slavery, misogyny, access to medical care and more. A brilliant sophomore outing by Beanland. I can’t wait to read more from this phenomenal author. Put this on your list for publication in April. Five stars (six if I could). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've never read anything else by this author, but I'm likely to check them out. The story is a fictionalized one based on the 1811 theater fire in Richmond, VA. It's told through multiple POVs of four characters who were at the theater or helped with the rescue. It's an emotional story, particularly since those who died did so as the result of terrible decisions and behaviors. The prose is beautifully written, despite the horrific nature of the incident. I really appreciated the author's note at the end regarding what's fact vs. fiction. I really enjoyed being educated, as well as entertained, with this story.

One event changes the course of four lives in Rachel Beanland's new historical fiction novel The House Is On Fire. Inspired by the Richmond Theatre fire of 1811, Beanland imagines how the fire affected four different people: Sally Henry Campbell, a newly widowed woman; Cecily, a young slave girl who accompanied her owner to the theater; Jack, one of the stagehands; and Gilbert, a slave (and Cecily's uncle) who comes to the rescue.

The aftermath of the fire leaves many dead and wounded, primarily women. And Sally begins to realize that Virginia men may not be as admirable as they'd have people believe. Meanwhile, Cecily decides that the fire is the perfect opportunity for her to run away from a bad situation. She needs the help of her uncle Gilbert, who is being applauded by white people for helping to rescue white women as they jumped from the theater. And Jack is the one who started it all, though not on his own. When given an order, he followed it, and raising a lit chandelier ended up causing a catastrophe. Jack wants the theater company to take responsibility for the fire, but he's not in charge.

The book moves quickly between all four characters (though sometimes too fast for my liking) and even has their lives overlapping at times. While the book is a work of fiction, it is based on a real event, and I enjoyed reading the research that inspired Beanland's direction with her version of events. This may have taken place in 1811, but sometimes you wonder just how far our country has really come in terms of racism and sexism. I think this book would be a good book club pick.

I loved Rachel Beanland's debut Florence Adler Swims Forever and her sophomore release is a hit as well. I love southern historical fiction and this one is based on the true story of a theatre fire in 1811 in Richmond, Virginia.

It's quite obvious that the author was meticulous in her research. The story is from four points of view and shows how the fire affected each of the narrators' lives. Rachel Beanland took me away to a different time and place, and what a time it was. Such a hard time in history to be a woman, an African American or a person of no means. (Imagine being all three!) This book really makes you think, but it especially made me feel. My emotions were all over the place whilst reading, I felt such sadness and anger.

It turns out the people you least expect are the true heroes of this story. If you read this book make sure you read the author notes at the end, it is very enlightening and you'll be glad you did. All. The. Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

5 stars

After reading and LOVING _Florence Adler Swims Again_, I was thrilled to devour Beanland's next effort. This author has a real knack for historical fiction, but especially for making the characters come alive in their circumstances, and this most recent novel proves this prowess once again.

It's 1811 in Virginia, and everyone in town either goes to the theater or knows someone who does on the fateful night when the titular house is on fire. The lead in and the scenes during the fire are gripping and harrowing, but these are nothing compared to the aftermath. From four entirely distinct perspectives, readers get insight into how this fire impacts the people it literally and figuratively touches.

In addition to the meaningful personal stories of each of the main characters, there are also riveting depictions of race, misogyny, classism, and power dynamics within groups and even between individuals. Each of the m.c.s lacks power in some specific and obvious way, so it's refreshing to hear their perspectives: always a highlight in historical fiction. That noted, there's also something quite special about each one: a skill, a circumstance, physical strength, an essential pursuit of truth, and certainly an interest in the concept and state of freedom.

One of the many reasons I enjoy reading historical fiction is getting more insight into events on which I have limited incoming knowledge, and that was certainly the case for me here. Beanland's imagining gives life to what was clearly an indelible experience for folks who actually lived it, but it also helps readers build palpable empathy for the characters we get to know.

This is another gem from Beanland, and I remain on the Beanland-writes-I-read! list with continued enthusiasm.

Be forewarned… make sure you block off the next couple of hours when you start to read this. Once you start, you won’t be able to put it down! The House is On Fire hits the ground running. We are briefly introduced to the four main characters before the fire breaks out. I almost felt like I was inside the theater with the characters struggling to make my way out!

If you typically avoid historical fiction because you find it to be a slog, try The House is On Fire. It has the pacing of a thriller and just enough details to immerse you in the time period. You definitely won’t feel like you’re reading a textbook!

Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

A well-researched and truly interesting historical fiction novel that explores the December 26, 1811 fire at the Richmond Virginia Theater and the days after, which at the time, was the worst urban disaster in U.S. history. Somehow I missed this event in history class, and the Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary periods have always fascinated me. This book was a true adventure in history!

The story explores the vantage point and story of four people who experienced the fire in different ways and all of whom had completely different lives. Sally, the daughter of founding father Patrick Henry, Gilbert and Cecily - both slaves, and Jack, an orphaned stagehand. Sally and Gilbert were real, historically accurate people that were there at the theater the night of the fire. There was most definitely a young stagehand at the scene, which is the basis for Jack’s character. I could not find evidence of an actual Cecily, but I’m positive that her story is one of many female slaves during that time period. While reading the book, I started to research this fire and it warmed my heart to find that there is a historical maker honoring Gilbert at the site of the fire, to commemorate his heroism.

This novel is a vivid reminder of how far we have come in 200 years. The stories of Cecily and Gilbert did something to me, the way they acknowledged that they were property, how they had to live their lives…how did this even happen? How did humans think this was ever acceptable?? Of course we all know about slavery but to gain the perspective that was given in this book is devastating. Additionally the women at the theater that night - cast aside in the fire to die, disposable to their husbands if they happened to survive and had injuries. And if their husband died they had no rights to any property or familial inheritance. Seventy-two people were killed, fifty-four of whom were women. Of course Sally’s narrative is the “fiction” part of historical fiction but I would like to think she was as pissed off about the treatment of women in her day as she presented in this novel. I did find Jack’s portion a tad dry in certain sections, but overall a great read about an event in U.S. history you may not even know occurred!

The House is on Fire is a must read! Make sure you have plenty of time to read when you pick it up, because you won't be able to put it down. Beautifully written, it's based on the true story of the Richmond theater fire in 1811 that killed over 70 people. The story focuses on 4 people a young stagehand, Jack, who has a hand in starting the fire, an enslaved blacksmith, who becomes an unsung hero due to his race, a young widow, Sally, an unsung heroine due her gender, and a young enslaved woman, Cecily, who grabs her chance to escape a horrible situation. Each character is very well-drawn, each perspective different and equally fascinating. This is the very best of historical fiction,

The House is on Fire is the story of the 1811 theater fire in Richmond Virginia. The theater was full of people and it became a great tragedy for the town. It is told from 4 points of view, Sally who is a theater attendee, Gilbert, a slave that helped to save people, Jack, a stagehand who saw the fire start backstage, and Cecily a slave.

This book is wonderful historical fiction. The reader will learn about the fire and the construction of the theater that led it to burn to the ground so easily. It also shows how some people were heroic while others only worried about themselves. I did not know much about this fire but this book brought it to life. The book is well researched and the author's note gives the reader a glimpse into the real people involved in the fire. If you like historical fiction, pick up a copy of this book. It is excellent.

Thank you to #netgalley, #RachelBeanland, and #Simon&Schuster for a copy of this book.
#TheHouseIsonFire

Prior to reading this fictionalized account of the 1811 Richmond theater fire, I had never heard of this tragic event. A young, inexperienced stagehand accidentally lights the backdrop on fire when a prop malfunctions and he is unable to douse the flames before the entire theater is engulfed in the blaze. In the ensuing panic, chivalry is abandoned in the fight for survival as men push and shove and even climb over women to escape blocking the exit and stairs, leaving the most determined or lucky theatergoers trapped in the box seats and balconies to jump from broken windows on the second and third floors, and the less fortunate to die in the conflagration. In the end, while all but 14 men escape the blaze, approximately 50 women lose their lives. Beanland's account of the terror and desperation of these women leaps off the page in some of the best writing of the entire novel.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the members of the performing theater troupe conspire to cover their role in the accident as the town launches an inquiry into the fire. The young stagehand who had been directed by his superiors into making the fatal error is coerced into a series of lies and deceptions, but his guilt is overpowering. Fearing imprisonment, financial retribution, and the ruin of their careers, the theater company decides to play on Richmond's pervasive fears of slave rebellions to falsely claim that a roving band of slaves started the blaze. But their clumsy attempts to evade responsibility and the inconsistencies in their story make it easy for investigators to see through their lies. Unfortunately, however, racism is a powerful force in the pre-Civil War South, and their reckless allegations have serious implications for Richmond's African American community, enslaved and free alike.

This is a fascinating and little-known event in American history and as such is rich source material for a historical novel. Sadly, with the exception of the young stagehand, the characters in The House Is on Fire are not fully developed and are more caricatures of old stereotypes. As such, they lack color and interest. The choices most face seem black and white, rather than the nuanced grayscale of reality. Expanding upon the narrative to allow the characters to seem less uni-dimensional would allow the story to feel more realistic as a work of historical fiction, drawn from actual historical events of such magnitude should be. The Author's Note at the end of the novel was well-written and added a great deal of context and color to the events of the book. Clearly, Beanland did a great deal of research prior to writing this novel, and as such, I would be interested in reading more of her historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley for sending an ARC of this book for review consideration.

The Richmond Theater fire on December 26, 1811, was young America's first great disaster. Over 600 people were crammed into the theater that night to see a play when the building caught fire mid-performance. Seventy-two people would die as a result.

Rachel Beanland takes readers back to that night and the three days afterward, telling the story via four well-written characters. Sally Henry Campbell, daughter of Patrick Henry, is a recent widow looking forward to enjoying the play with her best friend Margaret and her husband. Cecily, a slave, is accompanying her mistress. Jack Gibson, 14, is a stagehand who hopes for a permanent job with the company and dreams of becoming an actor. Gilbert Hunt, a slave and a blacksmith, is saving to buy his wife's freedom.

These four people will each make decisions that night that will affect not only their lives, but the lives of many others as well. Tragedy can bring out the best and/or the worst in people. You'll find both in this carefully researched tale.

Beanland's vivid descriptions brings events to life and held this reader's attention throughout. Short chapters which alternate between POVs keeps the pages flying. A very good read!

My thanks to Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read a DRC of this novel via NetGalley. The book is scheduled for publication on April 4, 2023. All opinions stated in this review are my own and are freely given.

I enjoy historical fiction novels whose main characters are based on actual people. I just finished Robert Harris' excellent, Act of Oblivion, and was hoping this book would be even half as good. I'm happy to report that this, too, is an excellent story and one I won't forget any time soon.

The Richmond, Virginia theater fire of 1811, where seventy-two people perished, was one of the first major disasters of this young country. That night and the aftermath are recounted by Gilbert, a slave to a blacksmith whose heroics helped save lives; Jack, a fourteen-year-old stagehand, whose actions may have caused the fire; Sally, a young, wealthy widow who helped care for the injured; and Cecily, a young slave, who takes her presumed death as a chance to escape. Their stories and the period in which they existed are excellently rendered in this book.

Rich in detail, this well-researched novel brings to life the culture of the times and the place of women and slaves in a society dominated by white men. The interweaving of facts and fiction is seamless and the characters and their lives are riveting. Beanland expertly takes a tragedy and turns a magnifying glass on a period in time and a culture that, unfortunately, many in today's political climate are trying to eliminate. This book should be a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good drama based on actual events.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy for review. The publication date is April 4, 2023.